Mar 31, 2017

Sly Exits EX4!

As per Deadline: "In a crushing blow to fans of The Expendables, Sylvester Stallone
has washed his hands of the franchise. He has withdrawn from taking
part in the fourth installment, even though, sources said, it would have
meant the biggest upfront payday in his career at north of $20 million.
The reason? He and Nu Image/Millennium chief Avi Lerner
could not find common ground on a new director, on the script and on
certain qualitative elements of the film. That went right down to the
selection of the CGI house to handle visual effects. The franchise has
used Lerner’s own VFX house, Nu Boyana in Bulgaria.

Sources said that Stallone — who set a high bar for himself reprising
Rocky Balboa with Michael B Jordan and director Ryan Coogler in Creed —
was concerned about potentially underwhelming results of another
franchise with which he is indelibly linked. Stallone wrote the first
script with Dave Callaham, co-wrote all the sequels, and directed the
first film. But knowledgeable sources said that Expendables team leader
Barney Ross has led his last mission.

One who knows the dynamic of the long Stallone-Lerner relationship
suggested they often disagree and eventually work it out over a couple
of cigars, but it doesn’t sound like that’s going to happen this time.
Lerner acknowledged the differences he has had with Stallone, but wasn’t
willing to concede a divorce just yet. “We’ve got disagreements with
Sly, but we’ve had them for over a year and a half,” he told Deadline.
“Right now, each one has opinion. We agreed on 95% of things, but there
are certain things in production we don’t agree on. I don’t think it’s
over, but what write whatever you want. In my opinion, it’s not dead.”

It is unclear how Stallone’s exit impacts the film or its beefcake
action hero cast.."

Well, if this is the case the franchise is done in my opinion and will turn into a DTV cash cow. I for sure am done with it if Sly is not part of this.